Serious Eats: Chicago
A Sandwich a Day: Monte Cristo at CornerStone Café
Editor's Note: In this great city of ours, one could eat a different sandwich every day of the year--so that's what we'll do. Here's A Sandwich a Day, our daily look at sandwiches around the Windy City. Got a sandwich we should check out? Let us know!
[Photograph: Joe Roy]
Conveniently located at the corner of Diversey and Western Ave., CornerStone Café is the type of breakfast and lunch place that casts a wide net. If you can't find something on the epic five-page menu that suits your fancy, you're either impossibly picky, or you're not looking hard enough. My eyes landed pretty quickly on the Monte Cristo ($7.75, with fries).
While the sandwich's construction varies regionally, this simple rendition covered all the bases: egg-dipped bread is griddled on both sides, stuffed with ham and swiss, and cooked together until sufficiently melty. The addition of sliced turkey complemented the salty ham, while the honey mustard and pickle spear on the side added respective tartness and acidity. While it hardly reinvents the Monte Cristo wheel, I'd gladly order one of these again the next time I can't decide between a scramble, Belgium waffles, omelette, crepes, salad, wrap...
CornerStone Café
2753 N Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 (map)
773-235-1155
chicagocornerstonecafe.com
